All I Am
Al Jarreau/George Benson Lyrics
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When you look at me
Is it somebody strong
Somebody you could admire
And who do you think I am
When I take your hand
Are you counting on me
To fill your dreams and your desires
Well all I am
Is lonely (just) like you
All I wanna do
Is have one dream come true
All I am is handing you my heart
And hoping to be part of you
Who do you think you are
Standing in the dark
Are you waiting for me
Why can't I reach you from here
And how do I get to you
Won't you let me through
Don't you think maybe we
Have something special to be shared
Well all I am
Is lonely (just) like you
All I wanna do
Is have one dream come true
All I am is handing you my heart
And hoping to be part of you
In Al Jarreau/George Benson's "All I Am," the lyrics explore the idea of perception versus reality in relationships. When Jarreau asks, "who do you think you see when you look at me?" he is questioning the image that others have of him. The song acknowledges the often-romanticized idea of a strong, admirable person, one who will fulfill all of the desires and dreams of their partner. However, the reality is that he is just as lonely as the person he is with. The chorus repeats the line "all I am is lonely (just) like you," emphasizing that despite the different perceptions they may have of each other, they share the same feeling of solitary.
The song's second verse focuses on an element of communication in relationships; how the desire to connect can sometimes feel blocked or complicated. Jarreau asks, "who do you think you are standing in the dark? Are you waiting for me? Why can't I reach you from here?" These lines suggest a tension that could be caused by the difficulties of meeting in the middle, or the fear that one person may be more invested than the other. Ultimately, the lyrics offer a hopeful message, with Jarreau stating that he is "handing you [his] heart and hoping to be part of you."
Line by Line Meaning
Who do you think you see
Who do you imagine me to be
When you look at me
When you gaze upon me
Is it somebody strong
Do you perceive me as someone powerful
Somebody you could admire
A person whom you could look up to with respect
And who do you think I am
And what about me do you think?
When I take your hand
If I extend my hand towards you
Are you counting on me
Is your faith and hope in me
To fill your dreams and your desires
To make your deepest aspirations and yearnings a reality
Well all I am
The truth is that my entire person is
Is lonely (just) like you
As alone as you are, without another person to share experiences with
All I wanna do
My only wish
Is have one dream come true
Is to see a solitary desire of mine realized
All I am is handing you my heart
All I can do is offer you my love and everything that comes with it
And hoping to be part of you
And hoping to be integrated into everything that you are and all that you represent
Who do you think you are
What is your identity?
Standing in the dark
Placed in the obscurity of dim light
Are you waiting for me
Are you expecting something from me
Why can't I reach you from here
I am incapable of connecting with you from my location
And how do I get to you
What means can I utilize to reunite with you?
Won't you let me through
Please, will you grant me access
Don't you think maybe we
Surely you must consider that we perhaps
Have something special to be shared
Own one of a kind things to be exchanged
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PHILIP JACKSON, PHILLIP JACKSON, REX RIDEOUT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind